Illusion type picture mounting



April 20, 1965 F. F. CHRISTIAN ILLUSION TYPE PICTURE MOUNTING Filed May 6, 1965 {TIE-l5 F155 ililiil" /z Mezz for.'

affforvzegl/s United States Patent O M 3,178,844 ILLUSION TYPE PHCTURE MUUNTING Fay F. Christian, 116 W. Market St., Mount Carroll, iii. Filed May t5, 1963, Ser. No. 273,162 Claims. (Cl. itl- 158) This invention relates to improvements in illusion type picture mountings. In framing pictures, it is sometimes customary to use a deep frame, that is a frame which extends outwardly beyond the plane of the picture by a substantial distance in order to give an illusion of depth. This technique was not uncommon some sixty years ago, but contemporary modes of interior decoration favor a more bland treatment of picture frames, such as light colored or bleached Wood, and rather inconspicuous frames.

The present invention has for its object a picture framing arrangement which creates the illusion of depth without resorting to deep or heavy frames.

The invention is particularly applicable to pictures which portray an object from an angle to the normal axis of projection. For example, in the case of a landscape or outdoor scene, the picture often portrays the scene from an elevation, so that the scene is one of looking down on the subject. In such instances, a third dimensional impression, or illusion of depth, can be irnparted by the practice of my invention which has been found to be aesthetically desirable. This is particularly true in the case of comparatively small pictures for use in domestic interiors, such as those having a maximum dimension of from seven inches up to eighteen inches, representing an overall frame dimension of from ten inches up to twenty-two inches.

An advantageous feature of my invention is that the illusion of depth can be matched to the particular angle of view, thus alfording a greater latitude of effect than in the case of the deep frames previously mentioned.

According to my invention, I provide a mat assembly which involves the use of two or more rnats having oval or circular openings, the remote mat opening being slightly smaller than the proximate mat opening, and the mats being mounted eccentrically to each other.

Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

With reference now to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention as applied to a downwardly looking scene;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along line 2--2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the mat assembly;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the mat assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

The frame picture of FIG. 1 includes the mounted picture 10, an oval frame 11 and a mat assembly 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The parts are secured to each other by suitable means, not shown.

The mat assembly includes two oval mats, a proximate mat 13 and a remote mat 14, the opening 15 of the proximate mat being of substantially the same shape, but somewhat larger than the opening of the remote mat. The mats are arranged so that the openings 15 and 16 are eccentrically disposed and so that there are coincident edges 17 and 18 at one point, and overlapping edges 19 and 20 at another point, the extent of overlap gradually diminishing as one approaches the coincident points 17 and 18. Thus a margin 21 of the remote mat 14 is ex- 3,178,844 Patented Apr. 26, 1965 ICC posed to the viewer, and the width dimension of the margin tapers down to zero.

It is contemplated that the surface treatment of the mats i3 and 14 differ from each other, and preferably jha1 the surfaces be contrasting in color, or texture, or

Thus, when one views the framed picture as a whole, in the case of the particular scene shown in FIG. 1, the impression is conveyed that the scene is being viewed through an oval opening from an angle which corresponds more or less to the angle of view. In other words, one could assume that the opening is made in a wall of appreciable thickness, in which event the exposed margin 21 would correspond to the projection of the edge of the opening upon the eye of the viewer.

In the case of a picture which portrays an object which is viewed from a distinct side angle, the same illusion of depth can be obtained by arranging the coincident edges 17 and 1S at the side instead of at the top, the particular side depending upon the angle from which the view is taken. In some instances, of course the frame can be arranged with its major axis in the vertical direction instead of in the horizontal direction. For example, when the mat assembly of FIG. 3 is rotated 90 it shows a vertical oval at which the coincident edges are at the side.

Although I have shown only a preferred embodiment of my invention it will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the construction shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A picture mounting comprising a picture, a frame therefor, and a mat assembly overlying said picture, said mat assembly comprising a remote mat and a proximate mat overlying said remote mat, and each having an opening of substantiaily the same shape as each other, the remote mat opening being smaller than the proximate mat opening and said mats being mounted eccentrically to each other with the edges of said openings being coincident at one point and overlapping at an opposite point, whereby a marginal portion of said remote mat is exposed, said exposed marginal portion decreasing in width as one approaches said coincident edge portions.

2. A picture mounting as claimed in claim 1 in which said mat openings are oval.

3. A picture mounting as claimed in claim 1 in which said mat openings are circular.

4. A picture mounting as claimed in claim 1 in which said mats are of contrasting surface treatment.

5. A picture mounting comprising a picture, a frame therefor, and a mat assembly, said mat assembly comprising a remote mat and a proximate mat each having an opening of substantially the same shape as each other and as the frame opening, the remote mat opening being smaller than the proximate mat opening and said openings being arranged ecentrically to each other and having coincident edges at one point and overlapping edges at an opposite point, whereby a marginal portion of said remote mat is exposed to View.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 151,375 10/48 Koltnow litl-152.1 X 882,710 3/08 Pearsall 410-158 1,358,916 11/20 Andersen 40-158 JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PICTURE MOUNTING COMPRISING A PICTURE, A FRAME THEREFOR, AND A MAT ASSEMBLY OVERLYING SAID PICTURE, SAID MAT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A REMOTE MAT AND A PROXIMATE MAT OVERLYING SAID REMOTE MAT, AND EACH HAVING AN OPENING OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SHAPE AS EACH OTHER, THE REMOTE MAT OPENING BEING SMALLER THAN THE PROXIMATE MAT OPENING AND SAID MATS BEING MOUNTED ECCENTRICALLY TO EACH OTHER WITH THE EDGES OF SAID OPENINGS BEING COINCIDENT AT ONE POINT AND OVERLAPPING AT ONE OPPOSITE POINT, WHEREBY A MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID REMOTE MAT IS EXPOSED, SAID EXPOSED MARGINAL PORTION DECREASING IN WIDTH AS ON APPROACHES SAID COINCIDENT EDGE PORTIONS. 